Closure for collapsible tubes and the like



J. VANKO 2,808,184

CLOSURE FOR COLLAP'SIBLE TUBES AND THE LIKE Oct. 1, 1957 Filed Jan. 20,1955 IN V EN TOR. JOHN VANKO ATTORNEYS United States Patet CLOSURE FORCDLLAPSIBLE TUBES AND THE LIKE John Vanko, Brunswick, Ohio ApplicationJanuary 20, 1955, Serial No. 482,935 Claims. (Cl. 222-525) Thisinvention relates generally to closures for collapsible tubes and thelike, but has reference more particularly .to a closure which may alsobe utilized as part of an oil ,cup.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a closure of thecharacter described, which need not be removed from the tube or oil cupduring use of the tube or cup.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure of the characterdescribed, which utilizes as a portion thereof a plug having a sphericalupper end or head.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure of the characterdescribed, which utilizes as a portion thereof a cap having a sphericalportion having a degree of flexibility enabling it to seal down in adesired manner on the head of the plug.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure of thecharacter described, which employs a means of attachment which obviatesthe use of threads on the tube or cap.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a closure of thecharacter described, which embodies the use of ribs which provide a sealwhich prevents the contents of the tube from escaping through the jointbetween the tube and cap.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Fig. 1 is a view of a collapsible tube having a closure embodying theinvention secured thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale,taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the closure in closedcondition;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the closure in openposition;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modification of theinvention.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings,reference numeral 1 designates the upper portion of a collapsible tube,such as a tooth paste tube, which is provided with a neck 2, which,instead of being externally threaded, as in conventional tubes of thistype, is provided at its upper end with a radially-outwardly extendingannular rib 3, of substantially semi-circular crosssection.

Frictionally and tightly secured within the neck 2 of the tube is a plug4, which may be made of a hard plastic or as a metal die-casting. Theplug 4, for the major portion of its length, is of cylindrical form, andis provided in its external surface with three longitudinally-extendingflutes, channels or grooves 5, which are spaced uniformlycircumferentially of said external surface. Each of the channels orgrooves 5 extends circumferentially through an arc of about 100 degrees,and the wall thereof is of 2,808,184 Patented Oct. 1, 1 957 arcuatecross-section. Each of the channels or grooves 5 is open at its lowerend, but terminates at its upper end in a curved wall 6 which extends tothe exterior cylindrical surface of the plug. The channels or grooves 5extend upwardly to a point spaced a substantial distance from the upperend 7 of the'neck 2 of the tube.

The plug 4 is also provided, at its upper end, with a sphen'calsmooth-surfaced head 4a.

The closure further includes a cap 8, preferably made of a resilientplastic, such as polyethylene, although, for some purposes, the cap maybe made of metal.

The lower portion of the cap 8 is of generally cylindrical form havingan outer surface which may be provided with circumferentially-spacedribs 9, as shown, or which may be knurled for the purpose offagilitatingrotation of the cap, and having an inner surface 10 of a diametersubstantially equivalent to the external diameter of the rib 3 of theneck 2. The cap is also provided at its lower end with aradially-inwardly extending rib or bead 11, of substantiallysemi-circular cross-section.

The upper portion of the cap 8 is defined by a spheri cal outer surface12 and a spherical inner surface 13, these surfaces extending upwardlyrespectively from the outer and inner surfaces" of the lower portion ofthe plug, and inwardly to a point 14 to provide a circular opening 15.The spherical surfaces 12 and 13 are of different radii, so that thethickness of the upper portion of the cap becomes progressively thinnerin an upward direction, being thinnest adjacent the opening 15. In thismanner, a certain flexibility is imparted to the upper end of the plugwhich enables such upper end to bear flexibly .on the spherical head 4aof the plug, thus insuring a tight seal between the cap and the plug atthe opening 15.

The cap is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in closed position. Where the cap ismade of a resilient plastic, such as polyethylene, it may be attached tothe neck of the tube by merely snapping it over the rib 3.

In order to open the closure, the cap 8 is pulled upwardly away from theplug to the position shown in Fig. 3, this movement bein facilitated byimparting a rotary motion or half-turn twist to the cap. Displacement ofthe cap from the tube is limited by the engagement of the rib 11 fromthe cap with the rib 3 of the neck of the tube. When the closure is thusopened, the contents of the tube may be expelled through the channels 5and the opening 15. In order to close the closure, the cap 8 is returnedto its initial position by a reversal of the aforesaid movement, andwhen in closed position, the upper end of the cap, as previously stated,bears flexibly on the head 4a of the plug, thereby insuring a tight sealbetween the cap and the plug, at the opening 15.

The closure, as thus described, has a number of features and advantagesover similar closures described in earlier patents. These include thefollowing:

(a) The cap is not removed from the tube during use of the tube.

(b) The provision of a plug having a spherical upper end or head.

(c) The provision of a cap having a spherical upper portion, which hassome flexibility, so that it seals down better on the head of the plug.

(d) The manner of attachment of the cap to the tube, which does notrequire threads on the tube or cap.

(e) The provision of the ribs on the cap and tube, which ribs provide aseal which prevents the contents of the tube from escaping through thejoint between the tube and cap.

tube of the previously described form of the invention.

tion'19 of the adapter, which lower portion is of somewhat smallerexternal diameter than the external diameter of the upper portion 16 ofthe adapter. The junction of the bores 17 and 18 forms an annularshoulder, ledge or seat 29, upon which a felt washer 21 may be mounted,or a filter which is adapted to retain oil. The portion 19 of theadapter may be externally threaded for securement to an oil fitting orthe like, or it may be left unthreaded, so that it may be secured tosuch fitting by a press fit.

The upper portion 16 of the adapter is provided at its upper end with aradially outwardly extending annular 'n'b 22 of substantiallysemi-circular cross-section, and

similar to the rib 3 of the previously described form of the invention.

The plug 23 and cap 24 utilized with the adapter are substantiallysimilar in construction to the plug and cap of the previously describedform of the invention, and

need not, therefore, be further described.

In using the adapter as an oil cup, the plug 23 is in-- serted into thebore 17 so that its lower end bears against the felt washer 21. The cupmay then be filled by ele vating the cap 24- and pouring oil into thecap through the opening 25 in the cap, after which the cap is moved tothe closed position'shown, in which position it excludes dust anddirtfrom contaminating the oil. The oil then finds its Way through the feltwasher or filter.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention,

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a device of thecharacter described, a body having a bore therein terminating in ashoulder, a felt washer seated on said shoulder, a plug frictionallysecured in said bore and bearing on said Washer, said plug having aspherical upper portion, and a closure secured to said body and having aportion adapted to bear flexibly on said spherical upper portion, saidclosure portion having an inlet opening therein.

2. A device, as defined in claim 1, in which said portion of saidclosure has inner and outer walls of different radii, whereby saidportion becomes progressively thinner in one direction.

3. A device, as defined in claim 2, in which said body and closure areprovided with ribs adapted to coact with each other to limit movement ofthe closure from said body.

4. A device, as defined in claim 3, in which said plug is provided withcircumferentially-spaced passageways in its exterior surface.

5. In a device of the character described, a body having a bore thereinterminating in a shoulder and a second bore of smaller diameter than thefirst bore below said shoulder, a plug trictionally secured in saidfirst bore and having a diametergreater than the diameter, of-saidsecond bore, said plug having a spherical upper portion,

and provided"with circumferentially-spaced passageways in'its exteriorsurface, and a closure secured to said body and having a portion adaptedto bear flexibly on said spherical upper portion, said closure having aninlet opening therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,971,371 Donnelly Aug. 28, 1934 2,037,922 Punte Apr 2 1, 1936 2,106,828Heimsch et al lan.. 18, 1938 7 2 0 51'..;+-'.',--. iii-1938' "2,5i2,'412Bohanan June 20, 1950

